Feel the Burn

by MacDonald, Nicole

  ‘You have to, love. She’s too strong. Leave. Come back and win another day. Please, kitten,’ his voice broke on my pet name, only making me weep harder. ‘Please do this for me.’

  It was quiet then.

  I sat and focused on calming myself while listening to him breathe. When the lump in my throat finally abated I shook my head and crawled closer, a hand on each of his icy thin thighs, trying to warm them. I attempted a light voice but couldn’t speak, so let out a slow breath before trying again and whispered apologetically, ‘It’s already too late.’

  In the darkness I couldn’t see his eyes but knew he stared at me, and I felt the shivers he tried to suppress. My energy chimed within, being so close to him, and I had an inkling this might work but didn’t want to say so. Instead, I reached out to brush his hair back, repressing a shudder of revulsion at the lacerations I felt on his forehead. Alive yes, but he’d been tortured to the point that every inch of him seemed damaged. My stomach churned, making me feel nauseous while I traced my way down his arm to his hand, fingers catching over broken and swollen skin. His head dropped and shoulders slumped but his hand held mine. He gave a shuddering sigh.

  ‘This isn’t what I wanted for you. I can’t protect you.’

  He whispered it out like a shameful confession, barely discernible. I shook my head again and brought the hand that held mine to my lips.

  ‘Not your fault. And not your job.’

  Feeling his eyes still on me I took the chance and tried, releasing his hand so to cup his face, feeling the frozen ears beneath my fingers before I ever so gently touched my lips to his.

  Please let this work.

  In the spot behind my heart my energy glowed blindingly bright and in my minds eye I saw it flowing up, through my lips into his. The instant it did I felt his energy, currently dull and nearly depleted, swell within his body and it built to that brilliant gold light I knew so well. Not done yet, I focused. Knowing what I wanted and hoping this would work, I searched for his life flame, following the flow of energy into his body, using my energy to seek it out. Not being able to utilize my energy like normal felt like the times Elena challenged us to do something new and I focused inward, willing it to work.

  An irresistible warmth spread throughout his chest and torso, then flowed into his limbs. Alek groaned when he felt the energy, not his or hers but a merge of the two, surge throughout his veins. The contrast from the deep ache of cold in his bones to this intense, vibrant warmth made his heart beat erratically and head spin, his limbs buzzing within and jerking involuntary. With no way to release the energy, it built stronger and though not exactly painful, it wasn’t pleasant either. The fractured bones, lacerations, bruises, and burns healed and in a blinding flash behind his closed eyes he felt the energy snap out in a wave that couldn’t escape. It rippled out until just below the top layer of skin then snapped back, flowing to his center. With a gulped gasp he jerked back, unable to see or hear anything, body and mind singing with that blinding gold light.

  Cat’s panicky voice broke through the hum.

  ‘Al? Are you okay?’

  Her hands rested on his thighs again, but it didn’t hurt. He could feel the band of his shorts digging slightly into his hips, while only moments ago they were loose. The dull fog that had taken over his mind when the lack of food and water took their toll, vanished. Now it felt sharp, clear. Shaking his head, he exhaled in surprise when the heavy thumping pain didn’t occur.

  ‘Al?’ Cat whispered again, squeezing his legs lightly and he could feel the muscles where moments ago they’d been wasted. Before it hurt to sit, his thin body in constant pain; now nothing ached and the room didn’t feel cold, it felt pleasant. For the first time in weeks a tiny thread of hope fluttered through him. Reaching down he placed his hands over hers and gently tugged, drawing her closer. The manacles didn’t allow too much movement, his hands chained together with about half a meter between them and then a chain connecting them to the floor, preventing him standing.

  Cat shuffled onto her knees and tucked her head against his neck, the chainmail hood she wore pleasantly cool against his still heated skin.

  ‘How’d you do that?’ he whispered, lips against her forehead. ‘That wasn’t the energy I remember you having.’

  ‘You did it,’ she whispered back, surprising him.

  ‘What?’

  ‘When she took you. The torture, I felt it. And then when Elena severed our link it pushed me into the change. I have my full abilities now.’

  She stiffened then and sat up, fingers tracing the chains that held him.

  ‘We have to get you loose; the others will be here soon. If I don’t kill her she’ll kill the guys to force the girls into their full abilities, before she kills us all.’

  Silently thanking Ignatius for loading me up with so many weapons, I groped around my armor, hunting for the thin blade of elendite I knew he’d stashed somewhere.

  ‘Aha!’ I whispered in triumph, slipping the blade out from under the rapthna plating on my lower back. ‘Will this be strong enough?’

  ‘Should be,’ Alek breathed the words, his fingers exploring the blade. ‘You don’t usually carry this?’

  ‘Thank Iggy,’ I whispered, then pushed him back. ‘Sit straight, I’d hate to slip.’

  I felt for the base, following the chain down and gave a tiny laugh of delight when I felt the padlock.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Padlock. I’m not likely to get zapped am I?’

  ‘No. This room has crystals that block energy. You have to wear one to be able to use your gift.’

  I nodded and slipped the blade through the arm of the padlock, inwardly thanking the caretaker at my high school who’d shown me this trick with a screwdriver when I lost my locker key.

  ‘Pull the chain tight,’ I instructed. It was as easy as it had been at school that time; bracing the blade against the lock I put my weight on the section of blade threaded through the arm and felt it give. Dropping the blade I fumbled with the lock and with a grunt of effort worked the arm around and slipped the chain off.

  ‘One part down,’ I whispered in a sing song, delighted it had been so easy.

  Alek didn’t hesitate and pushed to standing. I jumped up, seizing his arm when he wobbled then staggered and banged into the wall.

  ‘Whoa, take it slow.’

  He shook his head.

  ‘No time, they’ll be here shortly. Can you do the same for these?’

  I grabbed the offered wrist, unintentionally pulling the other arm closer and examined it, running my fingers over the thick metal band and inset lock with my eyes shut while I worked out how it attached.

  Fuck.

  ‘I don’t think so, these would need to be picked and I’ve never done that.’

  ‘Okay, lets just break the chain; it’ll give me full use.’

  I crouched and spread my hands over the stone floor, groping for the blade on the ground when it suddenly got light—all the torches on the three walls flaring bright. Alek grabbed me and I snatched the blade. He hauled me back but I refused to stand behind him, bracing myself in front. Directly opposite where we stood a section of wall shimmered then vanished, revealing a room beyond and my jaw dropped.

  ‘Yakov?!’

  *~*~*

  Chapter Thirty Six

  The bloody library was a maze. Ignatius stalked down an aisle and cursed aloud when he heard the sound of shifting. Coming to the end of the aisle, where it should have led to the left, now stood a wall of books. Each time he worked out the direction to the door the room changed, walls appearing and vanishing when he turned.

  ‘Damn you, witch!’

  Feeling his head pound from the building frustration he took a moment to breathe and consider his options. How did you fight books?

  An idea occurred and he pulled the crossbow off his back and dismantled it, separating the barrels, then twisting them together end to end. He reached back again, fingers groping for the flat blade t
ucked behind the rapthna plating. Pinching the blade with his fingertips he dragged it out and fixed it to the converted crossbow, then stood and gave the now battleaxe a couple of swings to check the blade held. Satisfied, he launched a heavy blow at the bookcase in his way. The axe sliced far too easily into the books and slipped from his grasp, vanishing from view. Astonished, Ignatius stood staring for a moment then reached out. The first touch felt like books, firm under his touch, but when he pushed further his hand vanished. Without hesitation he shoved through the illusion and found he stood before the door he’d sought, the mirrored back shattered, his axe lodged in the middle.

  Frowning, Ignatius looked around, noticing the bits of mirror on the ground jammed into the bookcase that the door opened against. My axe didn’t break it, he realized, Cat must be just ahead. Wrenching the axe free from the door, Ignatius turned the handle and stepped into the stairwell.

  Alek’s hand clamped on my wrist like a vise when I made to step forward and I stopped, mouth working while I tried to find words. Yakov looked fine, healthy, totally unharmed and my brain felt like it flat lined while I stared at him in bewilderment.

  ‘Wh-what? Yakov? What are… why are…?’

  Adding to the bafflement occupying my mind was the hum of Alek’s energy. I didn’t realize until then that our link remained from our kiss and the absolute fury I could feel crackling through him didn’t make any sense. Yakov smiled, his blue eyes warm, and reached out a hand, walking toward us.

  ‘Cat, I’ve missed you.’

  Alek growled in the back of his throat and wrenched me bodily back. I landed on my ass, back smacking into the wall and he stepped forward, body hunched into a defensive position, the chains linking his wrists clanking. In a voice of fury he snarled at the advisor.

  ‘Stay away from her!’

  Yakov stopped in the middle of the room and cocked his head, studying Alek, both arms crossed behind his back.

  ‘You’re looking a lot healthier, Alek. It’s good to see you utilizing your gift so proficiently, Cat.’

  For an instant it felt like we stood back at the castle, training, with that casual but genuine compliment. Now on my feet, I stepped out from behind Alek, watching Yakov while he studied me. Something about his scrutiny made me feel ill, though it could be the anguished vehemence Alek projected. I glanced back at Alek, considering his expression, then realized.

  ‘Oh hell.’

  It hit hard and I couldn’t get any other words out. I just stared at Yakov, the sense of betrayal unlike anything I’d experienced before.

  ‘Ahh. The little princess with the glass face.’ His pleasant tone with the teasing edge gave nothing to suggest the depth of his treachery. The casualness felt beguiling and he smiled warmly at me, extending his hand again. Alek jerked me back and Yakov chuckled like it was all a good joke.

  ‘You know that won’t work.’

  He delivered the conversational line with a simple flick of his fingers that sent a crackling ball of silver energy straight into Alek’s chest, flooring him and nearly flooring me when the pain crackled through our link. It felt like the time I’d unintentionally grabbed an electric fence as a kid; all my joints ached and my breaths came in short, stunned gasps. I dropped to my knees beside Alek, a hand on his chest where it had struck and I focused on the energy exchange, the pain dissolving while we synced.

  ‘Catherine.’

  I rocked up onto my heels then stood, watching Yakov. Alek lay panting on the floor, catching his breath and I heard the metallic chink when he sat up. Yakov’s handsome aged face, with those caring, jovial blue eyes and slightly pointed chin, looked exactly the same as when he’d regarded me at the castle.

  ‘Why?’ I asked softly, unable to hide the hurt or push it over into anger.

  He opened his arms, offering comfort that felt truly bizarre considering the situation, but it gave me an idea. When I stepped away I heard Alek’s hitched gasp and scooted forward when he lunged, just out of reach.

  ‘Cat, DON’T!’

  Halfway between either man I twisted back, eyes intent, and winked while in a soothing voice, said, ‘Don’t worry.’

  Listen to my energy, try to copy what I do.

  He halted, half crouched and ready to run while those navy eyes bore into mine.

  Don’t do this.

  Ignoring his plea I continued toward Yakov, keeping my face calm though my heart raced. I knew I couldn’t use my energy externally but I also knew it worked fine internally, which in theory meant I should be able to shield internally, and if Yakov did what I suspected he’d try…

  My hands shook, not that he could see it, while I walked across and I kept a soft, defenseless expression, remembering how Loi would manipulate her brothers with that look. Inwardly I worked my energy out as far as it would go.

  Alek could feel her heart hammering through their link and knew his pounded just as fast. But it was too late to get between them now. Yakov enfolded Cat into his arms and an angry harsh sound slipped out of Alek’s throat when the traitor gently cupped the back of her head, pressing a kiss to her temple. Once, watching the man he’d loved like a father embrace the woman he loved more than life itself, used to touch him. Now, knowing that man was directly responsible for the deaths of his parents and seeing Yakov stand beside that hellish sorceress—it made watching him cradle Cat a terrifying ordeal.

  The tension between their linked energies told him that while Cat didn’t understand the full extent of what had happened, she knew not to trust Yakov. Now Alek could only watch and hope her idea worked.

  ‘I am sorry,’ he whispered in my ear while he held me and I couldn’t help the tears that slipped out. For so long I’d ached for Alek, or Yakov, or my Earth dad and their strong, safe embraces. It broke my heart to know that these arms and those words all had an ulterior intent that I couldn’t really fathom. The fear humming within Alek told me I stood in a dangerous position.

  ‘Why?’ I asked again, my voice breaking.

  ‘Oh little one, you sound just like your mother did.’ He tightened his hold, not aggressively but protectively, rocking me slightly. ‘It was never about you Thalians, blame the Mestarns for that. They had no right to drag your family into a fight that didn’t concern them. This is just returning the natural order of things. That’s all, little princess.’

  Yakov pulled back, hands cupping my face and smiled, his eyes gentle.

  ‘I have adored you all. Your honorable father, beautiful mother, and little Catarine, such a tiny wee thing, screaming away when I held you that first time.’

  He said the name like a doting uncle might, with such genuine affection and yet I could feel the weird energy humming to life within him. With my energy ready, pulsing as close to the surface as the strange crystals in this room would allow, I waited.

  ‘You and the girls, well you have something we want. It’s just an unfortunate truth. I promise, it won’t hurt. It’ll be over in a moment.’ He kissed my forehead again, his eyes now firm, and continued. ‘Say hello to your parents for me, Catarine, know I will always treasure my time with you.’ Then he hugged me tight.

  Silver lightning erupted from within him, shrouding my body with a searing touch. I gasped when the heat scorched through the chainmail, singeing the top layer of skin off while in the same moment my energy held its ground within and healed my skin seconds later. It felt like I’d been dipped in boiling metal then ice, the pain and relief so close together my senses still screamed. Holding me tight, evidently expecting me to collapse, Yakov started to move, dragging me away.

  ‘That. Fucking. Smarts,’ I hissed the final word with as much venom as possible and Yakov froze. I, however, didn’t and punched him hard, wincing when my knuckles cracked against something hard beneath his shirt. Still, it did the job, knocking him back and seeing my energy wouldn’t work I pulled my sword from its scabbard.

  A sharp intake from the end of the room made us both twist.

  Alek felt a rush of delight
when he saw Ignatius. The Lieutenant gaped first at Yakov and Cat, then at Alek, while he walked slowly into the room. About halfway along Ignatius appeared to brush against something and jerked away from one of the square floor tiles. A loud hum filled the air then a visible shimmer of dark energy rushed from the ceiling to floor, within the stone tile.

  Yakov laughed and they all looked to him.

  ‘Not to worry, Iggy. It’s designed to absorb gifts and you are far from gifted.’

  The advisor turned his attention to Cat, gathering a ball of silver flashing energy and moved toward her while she mirrored his steps in the opposite direction. Ignatius watched avidly for a second then started walking down the room toward Alek. Alek’s attention stayed locked on Cat, his palms itching for a sword and he twisted to look for the blade she’d dropped. He heard the zing when Yakov released the energy and felt the sudden heat on his side as Cat dodged it, then he heard Yakov yelp. Glancing up, he found Ignatius close to him, watching Yakov with a smirk. The advisor yanked one of Cat’s throwing blades from his arm then hissed in pain when Cat made the return motion, all five blades wrenching free from his body, shooting back to the sleeve.

  ‘She’s incredible,’ Ignatius commented, then turned to Alek and smiled coldly. ‘I’ll take good care of her.’

  That was all the warning Alek got before the Lieutenant swung an axe over his shoulder, straight at Alek’s head. With a curse he threw his hands up, using the chain that held his wrists to shield the blade. It didn’t faze the Lieutenant who flicked the short sword in his grip to an underhand hold and attempted to run Alek through.